This group is devoted to better understand the carbon cycle in Mediterranean ecosystems. This objective will be achieved through systematic measurements of CO2 and water vapor fluxes with eddy covariance in selected Mediterranean vegetation types. Carbon sequestration capacity of soils and the vulnerability of soil carbon pools to climate and land use change will also be assessed. Furthermore, these studies will provide input data for climatic or dynamic models. It is also devoted to study possible climatic effects on plant vitality and the spread of pests and plant diseases.

Another goal is devoted to study the impacts of ozone to vegetation in the context of climate change. Tropospheric ozone represents c. 10% of the total positive radiative forcing due to GHGs, and models predict a world wide increase in the future. Stimulation of net primary production caused by elevated CO2 and sink capacity of ecosystems can be compromised by increasing O3 levels. Current impacts on vegetation of ambient levels of this pollutant will be assessed, and plant responses under enhanced ozone levels (including possible reductions in CO2 assimilation or changes in Water Use Efficiency) will be studied, comparing different groups of plant species (e.g. Mediterranean evergreen vs. broadleaves). The study of the responses of selected bioindicator species under different climatic conditions (e.g. with increasing drought) will also be addressed. 

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